How should I start? Tony has spent over 50 years with the University in a range of roles – electronics technician, union representative and leader, pension scheme trustee and Council member. His achievements exemplify many of the University’s core values. He leaves behind a lasting legacy.  

I was privileged to work with Tony for many years whilst I was the University’s Finance Director and can personally testify to his great contribution. 

Tony joined the University in 1969 as an electronics technician in the Department of Physiology, supporting learning and teaching. He initiated a series of seminars for technicians about the connections between their work and the world-class research they supported – seminars that are still running today in the Faculty of Life Sciences. He was a constant guiding hand for a trainee technician programme which has produced highly skilled staff. Tony specialised in the design and manufacture of transducers and associated electronic processing and control circuitry; critical equipment for many areas of electrophysical research which was not then available commercially.  

In the early 1970’s Tony became involved with the trade union, now known as Unite, representing technicians, and later other groups of staff working in a practical environment.  His approach was widely regarded as constructive but firm: hedeveloped a well-honed ability to understand issues from different perspectives and to find sensible solutions to seemingly intractable situations, from dealing with highly sensitive casework through to conducting formal negotiations with the University’s senior management. Tony was eventually elected to the key role of Branch Chair, serving in that position for many years.   

A long-time colleague of Tony recounts a very insightful anecdote. Derek Telling had just been appointed Chair of the trade union branch with Tony as Vice-Chair. They were both replacing highly experienced,well-respected individuals, and were nervous about their first meeting with senior management. ‘Don’t worry’ says Tony, ‘if they don’t agree with us, just keep talking until they get it’. It proved to be a highly effective strategy with Tony always a master of his brief with an awesome grasp of detail.  

Tony’s trade union activity included 30 years’ experience of job evaluation schemes, most notably working with the University’s management between 2002-2007 to implement a highly regarded harmonisationof terms and conditions and single grading scheme for all staff. Tony was pivotal to this partnership success. 

His exceptional intellect and unwavering commitment led to election as a member of the University’s Council (now the Board of Trustees), a role which he undertook for more than 12 years, in three separate stints. He was highly regarded for his ability to understand and analyse the multi-faceted dynamics of a Russell Group University.   

I first encountered Tony after joining the University as Finance Director. This was a horribly challenging time with considerable financial pressures in the midst of the 2008 financial crash; big changes were needed. As befits a union leader and a Finance Director, in our first few meetings we engaged rather warily. However, we quickly found lots of common ground and from that point weworked together in a highly collaborative and constructive way – albeit with the occasional slice of negotiating tension thrown in for good measure! 

Tony made a significant contribution to the running of two major University pension schemes for staff in his role as trustee of the University of Bristol Pension and Assurance Scheme since 1984 and, later on, the University of Bristol Group Pension Plan.  

He and I were fellow pension scheme trustees during a period of major upheavals for pension schemes and worked together in our capacities both as trustees and as union representative and Finance Director respectively to find solutions and shape the orderly transition to new pension arrangements for a large proportion of the University staff.  

Tony is married to Penny withchildren Ellie and Simon plus two grandchildren. I am delighted that, Ellie and Simon are here today.  

Other interests include being a first-class photographer and a very accomplished guitarist. I have to say that I am somewhat surprised that Tony doesn’t have his trusty Martin acoustic guitar with him today to entertain us.  

It’s been a privilege to know and work with Tony over the years and to now count him a friend- not to mention fellow musician. 

Tony has been a force for good with enormous respect from staff at all levels for his unstinting loyalty and his lasting and passionate contribution to this University.  

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, I present to you Graham Anthony Macdonald as eminently worthy of the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa.